IT was a close shave as staff and regulars at The Woodside pub in Valley Road, Wistaston, collected £5,000 for the £1m Macmillan appeal.

The total included money raised by landlady Denise Marchant, who had her head shaved in the summer, in aid of the treatment centre for cancer patients at Leighton Hospital.

Assistant manager Jackie Bickerton said: 'Five or six years ago a pub regular died of cancer, so at the time we organised a charity seven-a-side football tournament in August to support cancer care and ever since, that bank holiday weekend has become a staple of our calendar.

'This year Debbie decided to have her head shaved and rather her than me.

'We have collection boxes around the pub all year and we are thrilled to be able to hand over such a large amount.

'We are currently planning for next year and hopefully we'll raise even more.'

The pub has already begun its Christmas teddy bear raffle and thanks to continuous and generous support of pub-goers and residents, is looking forward to another big fundraising effort in the new year.

Jackie added: 'On behalf of the pub I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone who has been involved over the last year and those who have donated prizes to our raffle, put money in the collection box or taken part in our events.'